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Rimbey teen competes in Little League World Series

Teen softball player wins gold at Alberta Games
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Torrence Clelland, 15, from Rimbey was the catcher for the Zone 4 girls softball team who won gold at Alberta Summer Games in Grand Prairie July 19 - 22. She also was the catcher for Ponoka Little League U15 team that travelled to Kirkland, Washington to compete in the 2018 Junior League Softball World Series July 29 to Aug. 4. Treena Mielke Photo

A young Rimbey softball player has enjoyed an extremely busy and successful season this summer, winning gold at the Summer Games with the Zone 4 team and then traveling with the Ponoka Little League to compete in the Junior League Softball World Series in Kirkland, Washington.

Torrence Clelland, a 15-year-old catcher has already proved herself as an up and coming ball player, and continues to excel at the sport.

She began playing when she was around seven-years of age and moved into her position behind the batter’s platewhen she was about 12 years-old.

She loves the game.

“Ball has always been in my life,” she said. “I remember going to my dad’s games when we were little. I’ve always loved it.”

In April, Clelland successfully made the Zone 4 16 and under team. The girls travelled to Grande Prairie for the Summer Games held July 19 to 22. The team won gold defeating Zone 5 in the gold medal game.

The game was a nail biter, going into extra innings.

Clelland said a player from her team made the winning run, sliding into home after the pitcher from the opposing team had thrown a wild pitch and the catcher missed the ball, running back to grab it and toss it to the pitcher in a futile attempt to put the runner out.

“She slid under the pitcher’s glove,” recalled Clelland. “When the umpire called her safe the entire dugout erupted in a loud cheer.”

On July 25, the Ponoka U15 Little League softball team traveled to Victoria, B.C. defeating host Victoria July 26 and qualifying for the right to represent Canada at the Little League World Series.

“We were shocked,” said Clelland. “It was the biggest tournament we had ever been to. We were really nervous. I just told myself, ‘okay, I’m really doing this.’”

The world series ran July 29 to Aug. 4.

Head coach Rob Clelland said it was very high calibre ball.

“It was amazing to watch,” he said.

The Ponoka team faced some tough competition playing teams from Canfield, Ohio, Redmond, Washington, West Tampa, Florida, Philippines and Puerto Rico.

They never made it on the winning side of the scoreboard at the world series, but the fact that they actually qualified for such a prestigious series certainly makes them overall winners anyway.

Coach Clelland is extremely proud of his team.

“They finished 10th in the world,” he said. “They are a great group of girls and I absolutely love coaching them.”

Meanwhile, his daughter, Torrence will hardly have time to catch her breath before she will be buckling on the catcher’s gear and trotting out to the field once again.

On Aug. 24 she will travel to Saskatoon, Sask. to try out for the 222s, a winter travel team. As a member of the 222s, she will travel to Saskatoon every other weekend in October, November, January and March and will also participate in four tournaments in California and Nevada.